Cigarette package and ash tray



March 13, 1962 r w. w. TAYLOR CIGARETTE PACKAGE AND ASH TRAY Filed June4, 59

MINIMUM W/W/am W ylor 1N VE NT R. BY M United States Patent 3,024,902CIGARETTE PAQKAGE AND ASH TRAY William W. Taylor, 21839 Pacific CoastHighway, Malibu, Calif. Filed June 4, 1959, Ser. No. 818,049 6 Claims.(Cl. 206-41) This invention relates to packages and more particularly toa combination cigarette box and ash tray.

An object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple additionto a now common cigarette box that has an openable top, whereby the topof the box may be converted to an ash tray for temporary convenience.

An important feature and advantage of the invention is that theconventional box does not have to be structurally altered in any waywhatsoever. The attachment which converts the box into a combined boxand ash tray is simply a single panel having folds arranged in aparticular way so that the panel functions as a closure for the top ofthe box, isolating an area of the box top so that it may receive ashestemporarily. The attachment is so arranged that the ashes are maintainedin an area which may be considered a compartment inasmuch as the ashesare confined to this restricted area so that they will not becomemingled with the cigarettes in the box.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette box constructed inaccordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the panel attachment used 7 in the box ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational View of the box in the closed position.

FIGURE 4 is an' enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line4-4 of FIGURE 3.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a cigarette box ltl which invery recent years has become quite popular for packaging cigarettes forsale. Box 10 is intended to be an absolutely conventional box includinga body 12 within which the cigarettes are stored together with a box topor closure 14 hinged along hinge line 16 to the back wall 17 of box itWhen the closure is flipped to the open position (FIGURE 1) it exposesthe cigarettes beneath a wrapper (if one is used). Ordinarily thewrapper is discarded at least at the top of the cigarettes so that theends of the cigarettes become exposed as soon as the top of the box isopened.

Ordinarily, boxes of the nature under discussion have a reduced widthinner wall structure 20 forming flaps that fit within the side walls 22of box top 14 when the box is in the closed condition. The improvementin box 10 centers about panel 24 which is added to the box structure.Panel 24 has a rectangular or square portion 26 and a tongue 28extending from one edge thereof. There are three transverse fold lines30, 32 and 34 in the rectangular portion 26 of panel 24. These foldlines may be formed in any conventional way such as by creasing orweakening the panel 24 in some other way, as scoring, pressing, etc. Itis preferred that panel 24 be made of lightweight cardboard, as the boxis made of this material. The transverse lines 39, 32 and 34 defineareas 36, 38, 4t) and 42, area 42 being that of the tongue 28. Area 36has cement or glue 44 thereon by which to secure area 44 to the insidesurface of back wall 17. Line 34 coincides with the hinge 16 or atleast, is closely adjacent to it so that panel 24 may be hinged aboutline 34. The fold line 32 is formed as a crease (FIGURE 2) so that areas40 and 38 are at 3,024,962 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 right angles to eachother when the attachment is in the closed position (FIGURE 1). Line 30is also a fold with tongue 28 at right angles to area 40 (FIGURE 1).Consequently the panel 24 forms an additional cover for the cigarettesand wrapping at the top ends of the cigarettes.

In use and operation, it is assumed that a person wishes to dispose ofsome of the ashes of a cigarette. The box top 14 is opened (FIGURE 1)thereby forming an upwardly opening compartment 50 within which toreceive the ashes. Now it is assumed that that same person would like toclose the cigarette box but has no place to dispose of the ashes.Accordingly, the panel 24 is lifted, separating tongue 28 from betweenwall structure 20 and the cigarettes and/or wrapper around thecigarettes in the box, and the panel is lifted thereby hingedly movingthe panel about line 34 as a hinge axis. Area 38 then occupies aposition flush against one of the side walls of compartment 59; area '24fits flush against the top panel of box top 14, and tongue 2-8 fitsflush against the inside surface of the front wall of box top 14. Inthis way all of the ashes are maintained captive between panel 24 andthe inside surfaces of the box top 14.

If a person desires to dispose of a lit cigarette or match, these, too,may be placed in compartment Stl. Panel 24 will act as means forsnufiing out the cigarette if it is placed in the compartment and thepanel 2% pressed firmly against the lighted part of the cigarette.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a cigarette box having a box top provided with walls and whereinthe cigarette box also has walls, the improvement comprising anattachment for facilitating use of the box top as an ash receptacle,said attachment being constructed of a panel, means hingedly securing aportion of said panel to a wall of the cigarette box, another portion ofsaid panel being adapted to be hingedly swung to a position at which itfits flush against a part of the inside surface of the wall structure ofsaid box top, said panel having a tongue which fits into the box tothereby hold said panel in position with a portion of the paneloverlying the upper ends of cigarettes in the box.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said means hingedly connectingsaid panel to the cigarette box include a cementitious product connectedto a portion of said panel, and a transverse crease in said paneladjacent to said cementitious product and constituting a hinge axisabout which other portions of said panel are adapted to be swung.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said crease is located adjacentto the hinge connection between the box top and the box.

4. In combination with a cigarette container having an open top bodydefined by front, rear and side walls, a closure top hingedly attachedto said body and including a top wall, front, rear and side walls forforming continuations of the main body when in closed position, anauxiliary partition disposed in parallel relation to the top wall of thetop and including a rear flap hingedly attached to the body and a frontflap insertable behind the top of the front wall of the body therebyforming an auxiliary closure therefor, said auxiliary partition beingmovable into the closure top for forming an ash receptacle therebetween.

5. The combination of a cigarette box having an open top body and ahollow closure hinged to said body for 3 4i swinging movement between aclosed position wherein the 6. The combination as defined in claim 5together with closure constitutes a continuation of the body and anadhesive means securing said partition to said body.

open position wherein the hollow closure is inverted, and

a partition of a substantially U-shaped cross-section hinged ReferencesCited In the file of thls patent to said body coincidentally with saidclosure, said partition 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS forming an auxiliaryclosure for said body when said hol- 2,645,229 Stillman July 14, 1953low closure is open and being swingable into the open hol- 2,666,522Herman I an. 19, 1954 low closure to form an ash receptacle therein.2,944,555 Peel et al July 12, 1960

